Classical homeschooling in Southern California

Kids Book Review: Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIHM

We just finished Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIHM during the holidays and both Little Miss and Greenbubbles loved it so I thought it would be a good review book for us to tackle in the new year. I think reviewing a book is just as good, if not better, then a book ‘report’ and allows them to really think about the story. Although their answers may be less then desired and a bit frustrating, they are thinking more about the book and it allows it to sit with them a bit longer.

Mom’s review:

This is a classic children’s story published in 1971 by Robert C. O’Brien involving mice, rats, an evil cat, and various birds. There are actually two stories in one. The first story follows Mrs. Frisby as she tries to save her family after her son falls very ill just as spring is arriving and the family needs to move or be killed by the plow. The second story is the history of the rats of NIHM, which I personally found to be much more exciting, and told to Mrs. Frisby by the rats themselves. It involves medical labs, experiments, and a lot of books.

I don’t want to say the ending is a happy one, because while some good happens, some bad does as well, just like the real world. It was very exciting and kept my kids listening and attentive throughout the book. They begged to read the next book in the series. For sensitive kids, I do offer a warning. There are multiple scenes of death throughout this book. Some of it is in the past, some is in the current story, some are vague and some are very clear. All the deaths involve the animals in the story. Over all, the story is one of hope and friendship however. It’s about making yourself better and working hard for the things you know to be right and not giving up.

Note: There may be spoilers in the following.

Kids Review

What was the book about?

GB: Mrs. Frisby got the rats to help move her house because her son was sick.

LM: Rats and mice. The rats were called the rats of NIHM. They had a kind of shot that made them smarter. Timony, the youngest kid, is sick. The rats of NIHM moved the house.

What was your favorite part of the book?

GB: My favorite part was when Mrs. Frisby warned them about NIHM coming.

LM: That’s hard, I loved it all. When the rats moved the house.

How did this book make you feel?

GB: This book made me feel happy.

LM: Good.

If you could meet one character from the book in real life, which one would you meet?